Reasonable Doubt

So many formulas are being tapped into for this glossy but vapid series. Most obvious is the famous Kerry Washington vehicle "Scandal." The sexy business clothes, the amoral behavior. Throw in "Real Housewives" of say- Baldwin Hills, or is this "Sex in the City" of Black Angels? The cast is a talented ensemble that deserves better. The main character, a female lawyer, never does any research, or preparation, but finds time for sexual dalliances the nights before big days in court. And the men in her life are kind of limp. Heck, the estranged husband even hires a bodyguard with whom she cuckolds him. Black women deserve real professional depictions.

There's some nice ensemble work, and all of the actors are quite committed. Set design, costumes, and camera work are all fitting, for the most part.

For me, the weakest link is the writing. It feels pushed. Nearly every scene contains a sense of heightened drama and engaged conflict. To which I say, how about infusing a bit of human awkwardness, fragility, and humorous elements? The script gushes over with hip banter, but it feels like trendiness-on-steroids. It seems like the producers are overextending themselves to prove something. I've watched just one episode, and I'm disappointed to say that I've had enough.

Overall the show premise and story, while typical is good. What makes it hard to watch is the character Jax and the actress protraying her. Jax is an awful friend, wife and mom... She is hypocritical and egotistical to everyone around her, placing herself and what she does on a pedestal. And the actress tries to hard, and fails miserably, in her efforts to be"urban"... Feels forced. And please get her better wigs 😫

I'm not sure why this show is compared to any version, rework or otherwise of Scandal. Everything about Scandal ( from the legal and political accuracy to the actors and actresses.. Especially Kerry) is far Superior. I'm honestly only watching to see if Brayden is guilty and if Lewis gets the backbone to leave the Narcissist that is his wife, Jax.

So the acting could be better but I'm struggling to understand how some of the reviews are saying that the show is trying too hard to meet the Black experience. First, the outfits are not that far removed from what my black self has seen in my black office. While I personally do not use the "n" word, and I get and agree that it can be offensive, many of my Black friends and associates do use the word frequently amongst themselves. And unfortunately, the references to White people are pretty consistent with my experience. And the comments about Jax being unlikeable are not surprising because many black women in leadership are often characterized as unlikeable. Strong leadership skills in a woman, especially a Black woman, tends to be criticized harshly. But a man that moves like Jax is often considered the best leader EVER. Some of the sex scenes were a bit much but that's what sells these days. I'm looking forward to the show getting better each season.

Somehow, the writers and creators of Reasonable Doubt have convinced themselves that the language, behavior, and cultural norms depicted are authentic and unapologetically Black. Um, no.

As an African-American professional in my early 50s, (Same age group as Morris Chestnut), an HBCU graduate, and a product of a middle-class childhood community that was 90% African-American, I don't know a single person who goes around using the N-word or listens to music with lyrics that use the same. We're the Anita Baker generation who love Alicia Keys, John Legend, and jazz.

This show has great plot points and a compelling storyline, but every time the main characters open their mouths and utter that word, their intelligence, awareness, and enlightened personas are discredited and thrown into the garbage. The recycle and repurpose rationalization of the N-word is a ridiculous justification and holds no water.

By contrast, Morris Chestnut's character is great and the epitome of poise, class, sex appeal, and everything the main character and her spouse should portray.

Emayatzi Corinealdi is a phenomenal actress who deserves better material. To the creators, depicting these characters in this light is short-sighted and overshadows your theme, general narrative, and character arcs while showing a level of ignorance not befitting your target audience, which I assume are young Black professionals and not the street gang crowd. Please, do better.